Tohatchi rallies late to stun Chinle, 49–43

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

CHINLE

Tohatchi emerged from the Wildcat Den with a 49-43 comeback win over the Chinle Wildcats on Tuesday night, erasing a double-digit fourth quarter deficit behind a late surge led by senior DeAndre Rios.

Rios finished with a game-high 18 points, including 10 in the final quarter, as the Cougars closed the game on a decisive 19-1 run.

Chinle appeared to be in control after building a 41-31 lead with just over six minutes remaining, but Tohatchi’s defensive pressure flipped the game. The Cougars forced turnovers, sped up the tempo, and steadily chipped away before taking the lead for good in the final minutes.

“Our boys were tired, so I made some substitutions and put some bodies out there and started to press to see if we could get some turnovers,” Tohatchi head coach Kendall Livingston said. “That’s what got us going.”

Tohatchi led 13-12 after the first quarter, with senior Myka Candelaria scoring five points. Rios, Myles Candelaria and Myka Candelaria each connected from beyond the arc. Chinle countered with five points from Jaiden Lee, while Ranen Parker added four and Kollin Laughing knocked down a 3-pointer.

The Wildcats regained momentum in the second quarter, outscoring the Cougars 11-9 to take a 23-22 halftime lead. Laughing led the way with four points, Parker hit a 3-pointer, and sophomores Bradley McCurtain and Bryce Burbank added two points apiece. Rios carried the Cougars offensively in the period, scoring seven points, including four free throws and a 3-pointer.

“I expect our team captains, Deandre, Darium and Myka, to step up when we need them the most,” Livingston said. “We counted on them, and they stepped up tonight.”

Chinle extended its lead in the third quarter, attacking the basket and outscoring Tohatchi 12-9 to go ahead 35-31. Burbank and Lee each scored six points in the period. Myka Candelaria led Tohatchi with four points, while Rios added a 3-pointer and Myles Candelaria chipped in two free throws.

The Wildcats pushed the margin to 10 early in the fourth quarter, but the game turned quickly. Tohatchi went on a nine-point run to pull within one, 41-40, by the 3:33 mark, then continued to apply pressure on both ends of the floor.

Chinle briefly regained a two-point lead at 43-41 but was unable to slow the momentum. Rios took over from there, scoring repeatedly down the stretch as the Cougars outscored the Wildcats 18-8 in the final quarter.

“I was going to call a timeout, but offensively we had a game plan to get a three-point look,” Chinle head coach C.J. Wood said. “We got the shots, but we didn’t hit them. That’s on me.”

Wood credited Tohatchi’s late execution.

“We played well for three quarters, but we didn’t produce in the fourth,” he said. “They scored 18 points and hit some big shots. Credit to Tohatchi. They’re a good program with a very good coach.”

Rios scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. Darium Peshlakai and Myles Candelaria added three points each, and Myka Candelaria chipped in two. Lee led Chinle’s late scoring at the free throw line, while Laughing and Aiden Kinlichee each scored two points and Parker added one.

Lee paced the Wildcats with 14 points, Laughing finished with nine, and Parker added eight.

“We knew they would play a lot of man-to-man, then they went to a zone, and we had to adjust,” Livingston said. “I’m proud of our guys. Even down 10, they never gave up. Our defense created those offensive opportunities.”

Chinle will look to rebound Wednesday against Window Rock, while Tohatchi travels to Kirtland Central for its next matchup.

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